//------------------------------// // 01: Winters Night // Story: Death by Ink // by brickguy213 //------------------------------// The blackened sky above Ponyville was sporting a crescent moon, signaling Luna was doing her job. It was partially obscured by clouds, but clouds weren't a big deal to everypony considering it was snowing. Hearths Warming was just around the corner and everypony was excited for the big day. The foals were the most excited, and their parents always said that kids got so nutty this time of year. A few ponies were walking the streets, but many were inside sleeping. There were a select few that liked the cold weather outside, and decided to take a stroll. One such pony was a young pegasus mare by the name of Amber Star. Amber certainly lived up to her name, having an amber colored coat. Considering how beautiful she was, one wouldn't think it'd be hard for her to get a coltfriend, but considering she was a social recluse, no one wanted to talk to her. But, then, maybe she was a social recluse because no one wanted to talk to her... At any rate, her sapphire eyes reflected the moonlight perfectly, and her teal mane with red highlights was perfectly done in a style similar to that of Rainbow Dash. With the exception of the few small flecks of snow in it. To complete the ensamble, she had a pair of perfectly good wings tucked at her side. She walked past a news stand and looked at the headlines. They were the same as always, the griffons had either taken another town, crossed the border, or killed another Celestia knows how many troops. It was sad... It seemed that the griffons would stop at nothing to take over Equestria. Walking in the opposite direction from her, she spotted her friend. Her best friend, since kindergarten. They had always been very close. Almost like sisters. "Hello..." Amber said sheepishly. "Hello Amber..." Her friend replied back, waiting for a response. "Lovley evening out isn't it?" Still nothing... "Yeah. It is." she finally said, speaking up. "The kind of weather that makes you want to curl up into a tight ball, maybe grab some hot coco, and read a book." "Yeah." "You know... I have a interesting book. It's an autobiography but uhh... It's pretty interesting. Ever heard of Lightning Strike?" "Yeah! Wasn't he that government agent?! He was so famous! It was a shame he died..." She suddenly stopped when she had realized she had talked a lot. "Yeah, he had a great reputation for being both kind, and generous, but yet he was ready to do the deed if it came to that." Amber pawed at the ground sheepishly. "I heard he once saved the Princess's life." "He did. If you want I can lend you the book. It's perfect weather for it, not to mention it's very interesting. And it just so happens I have it with me. Here." Her friend said hoofing it to her. "Umm... Thanks." Amber said, not wanting to say no, but not exactly wanting to take her friends book. "Thanks. I'm looking forward to reading it." She said, tucking the book under her wing. "I should really get going now. Enjoy the book." Her friend said trotting away, her hooves making soft crunching sounds. The only sign she was there being a series of hoof prints in the snow. Amber looked at the book curiously. It looked really elegant, like the princess herself had written it. She knew that Lightning was a pretty rich stallion, but not this rich. Looking at the title of the book, "Memoirs of Mr. Strike", which was inscribed in golden ink, it hit her like a bombshell. She had the one that Mr. Strike himself had hoof written. She was excited, and curious about the book, so she decided to go home. Her small house on the interior of Ponyville could hardly be described as luxury, but at least it was a roof over her head. It looked like a typical Ponyville residence, nothing standing out about it in any way. Entering her house, she plopped her plot down on the couch and stared out the window at the snow landscape. Gingerly picking up the book, she opened it to the first page and read. It was a wild and stormy night, and the rain beat on the windows of a large hospital building in Cloudsdale. It wasn't the best hospital in Cloudsdale, but it didn't matter. You see, this was were I was born. Now, my mother wasn't married when she uhh... Bred... With my "father". And if you're smart, you know that as soon as a mare gets pregnant and their colt friend is unmarried to her, he usually leaves. And that is just the case here. So, my mother, being single, was left to pretty much birth alone at the hospital with the exception of the nurses and the doctor. Pretty unfair. But, life isn't fair, so oh well. So without coin into too much detail, I was born. To put it simply of course. I mean, my Mom almost died during child birth, but, that's not important, right? Of course it isn't... It didn't help anything... Ahem... So, that's the start of my story. The start of my living hell... Amber closed the book, getting tired suddenly. She decided to go to bed, but when she got up to go to the bedroom, the book fell out of her hooves. Sighing and going to pick it up she noticed a page that had fallen out partially. She pulled it out and looked at it, seeing it was blank. "What is this?" Amber asked herself. She felt the page out of curiosity. It felt like it had ink on it, but nothing was there. "Impossible, unless... Invisible ink...? What was he up to..." "Story Main Theme"